Anna Hazare’s movement against corruption is only getting bigger and bigger by the day. This is a checkmate situation for the government because all its efforts to pacify Anna have failed miserably. The Congress must have never thought in its wildest dreams that someone will confront it this fiercely. If proposing a corruption-free society is blackmailing, then we better be offenders than mute spectators of dictatorship. The civil society does not want to compromise at this stage of nation building. The government has nowhere to hide.
—Prashant Udupa, Thane
If Anna Hazare is not publicity hungry, why did he keep postponing his hunger strike in keeping with the progress of the Indian team in the World Cup? If he is not working at the behest of right-wing politicians in India, why did he only praise two NDA-ruled states, although there are a few UPA-ruled states that are equally good? If he was not guilty about praising the NDA-ruled states, why did he late withdraw his praise for Gujarat?
—Pushpa Jeelani, Ranchi
It has been an ongoing tussle between government representatives and civil society members on the drafting of the Lokpal Bill. One cannot understand why the inclusion of the PM and the judiciary under the ambit of the bill should be a bone of contention. The PM must volunteer to come under the purview of the bill to give the public a signal that he is serious about fighting corruption. While there is no doubt that the Parliament is supreme, the current crop of Parliamentarians does not even attend Parliament most of the time. How can one expect such a contentious bill to be passed by them? They unite only to give themselves a raise but not to discuss important issues affecting the country. The level of debate in the last three decades is nothing to write home about.
—TR Viswanathan, Mumbai
The Congress has tried all sorts of tricks to counter the Lokpal Bill and the civil society members fighting for it. The party has maligned each and every individual who went against the Congress. I think the Congress is synonymous with corruption. The media, too, has been irresponsible in focussing on the people who raise their voices against corruption instead of reporting about those who perpetrate it. Television news channels invite well-to-do celebrities directly or indirectly benefited by the Congress to air their views on corruption. It seems like the channels are also benefited by the Congress. If the media is cleansed, half the problem will be solved.
—Annada Prasad Udgata, Mumbai
In India, laws are made in such a manner as to promote corruption at every level. In the existing system, the common man has to give a bribe for everything right from getting a ration card to verification of passport documents by the local police. On the other hand, small entrepreneurs have to give hefty bribes to get licences and permissions from various government agencies for their trade activates. It is unfortunate that no one raises a voice against the government’s “permit raj” that is the root cause of more than 60% corruption in India. The people have lost faith in India’s political, bureaucratic and judicial systems. That is why they follow whosoever raises a voice against corruption, whether it is Anna Hazare or Baba Ramdev.
—Deepak P Tewani, Thane
Corruption in India has spread like cancer to every nook and corner of the nation. The most corrupt in the country are politicians and government officials. The politicians come to power in India to loot the nation and invest in Swiss banks, real estate or shares. Which politician would sincerely want a strong Lokpal Bill? Why is the Congress scared of bringing the PM under the purview of the Lokpal Bill? The ruling party is answerable to the nation. Is the government ready to have a referendum on the subject? Unfortunately, we have the most corrupt government in the history of our nation. It is high time we re-wrote the Constitution and initiated electoral reforms.
—Menon R Parakkat, Navi Mumbai
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